Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3697, William Foster, R.I.

SERVICE
R.S.
Foster, William
NUMBER
R. 3697
CONTENTS
Blank lined area for contents entry
Blank lined area for contents entry

State of County of Clerk's Office,
Pennsylvania Luzerne Mayor's
Court,
A. D. 1855
Bernard McVigh
Clerk of the
Mayor's Court
of said State, within and for the county of
Luzerne
do hereby certify that William Root alld. before whom the foregoing declaration and affidavit purport to have been made and sworn to, and who has subscribed his name to the certificate thereof, was at the date thereof, a Justice of the Peace within and for the City of Carbonale in said county, duly appointed and qualified, and authorized to administer oaths and take depositions and the acknowledgment of deeds and other instruments; and that the signatures to the foregoing certificates, purporting to be his, are genuine. I have no interest in said claim, and am not concerned in the prosecution thereof. 19 th day of December In attestation whereof, I hereto subscribe my name, and affix my official seal, as Clerk of said Court, the day and year above written. 1855.
Bernard McVigh Clerk.

to William Foster
Pima
June 7. 1892
Rev. Foster received land 24 Feb 1890

State of Pennsylvania, County of Luzerne ss.
On this thirteenth day of December 1885 personally came before me the subscriber a justice of the peace in & for the county aforesaid, Pierce Foster who being duly sworn according to law on oath says that I reside in Greenfield in the County of Luzerne Pennsylvania
That I am sixty four years of age, That I am the son of William Foster who was a soldier in Capt William Humphries company, Col. Huggins Regiment of the Rhode Island line in the continental Army, in the war of the Revolution, That said William Foster was formerly a resident of Rhode Island, town of Foster That in seventeen hundred eighty seven or eighty eight, he married Amy Pierce of Crosby Rhode Island. That there is no public or private record of said marriage to this declarants knowledge, diligent enquiry having been made for the same. That said Amy wife of said William died in Greenfield Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, on the (20) day of June AD 1824. That said William died in said Greenfield on the seventh day of January AD 1848. That said William had but one wife, & all his children were these below named. 1 Nathan Foster, who if living would be about

seventy years of age. He went about forty years since from Rhode Island to the West & has not been heard from for over thirty years & is supposed to be dead.
2. Lilla Spaden, now about sixty two years of age. wife of John Spaden. now living in Clifford Luzquehanna County, Pennsylvania.
3. Timothy Foster who died in Greensburg Luzerne County, Pennsylvania on the twelfth day of April 1854.
4. Abby Gardner aged fifty four years. widow of Stephen S. Gardner. now living in Wabash, State of Illinois.
5. Mary English now about forty six years of age. wife of Gilbert English now living in Bradford County, Pennsylvania.
6. Mary Joslen. wife of John Joslen aged about fifty six years. now living in Coventry in the State of Rhode Island.
7. And this declarant, who states that he believes his father served until the close of the war of the Rebellions, & was at his death entitled to Bounty Land under the Resolution of 1776, and to a pension under the Act of 1832. He makes this declaration for the purpose of

Stating the amount of Pension due his father at his death & the Land Warrant due him he was entitled. That he makes this declaration for himself & in behalf of the said children & he requests for himself & them that all correspondence respecting these matters may be had with Joseph S. Pitman Esq. Providence R. I. whom he authorizes hereby to act as his attorney in this matter.
Witness
William Foster
Pierce Foster
Nathan Foster
Sworn to & subscribed before me the day & year above written. And I certify that I have no interest in the above claims & am not concerned in their prosecution.
William Root Notary Public
Jurket of his peace.
I Polly Jeans. on oath say. that I am a resident of Greenfield Luzerne county State of Pennsylvania. That I formerly lived in Foster in the state of Rhode Island. I am seventy five years of age. I have heard the foregoing declaration of Pierce Foster read. I have known the William Foster

William named from my childhood. I first knew him when he was about twenty one years of age. I was present at his marriage with Asney Pierce in Coventry Rhode Island, in 1787 or 1788, with whom he lived as man & wife until she died in said Greenfield in 1824, on the twentieth day of June. When I first knew him he was living in the town of Foster where I then lived. I have often during his life heard him say that he served in the war of the Revolution, & I believe he did so serve, William died in Greenfield on the seventh day of January 1848. I attended the funerals of William & his wife, I have always been intimate in the family & know them well. Pierce Foster who has signed the foregoing declaration is one of the sons of said William & Asney as I believe. The other children of said William who are living are Hilla, Abby, Asney & Mary whose residences & husbands are correctly stated in said declaration, and they are all of William's children now living Martha Foster one of the children of William died in Greenfield Luzerne County in the State of Pennsylvania on the twelfth day of April 1854. I know of his death because he was living in sight of my husband attended his funeral. I believe Nathan later son of William & Asney

dead, because he went from Rhode Island to the West some forty years since & I have not heard of him for the last thirty years. said William removed from Rhode Island in forty years since or more & lived in Greenfield the last year of his life. I have lived in Greenfield, a neighbor of said William for the last thirty seven years. I have no interest in the claims of the heirs of William Foster or the Government of the United States
Polly his  Widow
Witness
Admiral Smith
Sworn and subscribed before me the 19th day of December 1855
Nathan Foster
William Root & H. H. Moore one acting Justice of the Peace
I Billings Bndick being duly sworn on oath say, I am sixty eight years of age I am a resident of Greenfield, Luzerne County state of Pennsylvania, where I have lived in Greenfield County of Luzerne state Pa I have heard the declaration of Pierce Foster annexed hereto. read. I knew the William Foster therein named. I first knew him in about the year 1818 or 1819. He was then living in Greenfield His wife Amy Foster was then living with him as husband & wife & were reputed and treated as such Amy died on the twentieth

day of June 1824. William died on the seventh day of January 1848. both died in Greenfield & I attended both their funerals. Timothy Foster their son, died in 1854 on the twelfth day of April. I know of his death because I attended his funeral funeral. The three children of William who are living are Pierce Foster, Billa Foster Abby Foster and Mary English  Living as stated in the annexed declaration as I have in part to believe in part. I know those living in Pennsylvania are living & the others were when I last heard of them. I have heard there was a sister of Pierce Foster named Mary Foster of Coventry Rhode Island but I never knew her. I never knew of Nathan Foster. I have often heard him spoken of by the family & he has always been spoken of as dead or supposed to be dead. I have been intimate with the family since 1818 or 1819 & know all its members well. I have no doubt that all the children of William Foster who are living are those named in said declaration. I often heard William Foster say he had served in the War of the Revolution.

Having entered the Army from Rhode Island. I have no interest in the claim of the heirs of William Fales on the Government of the United States. Witness: Solomon Finch Nathan Foster Billings Bendire
State of Pennsylvania County of Luzerne ss. On this nineteenth day of December 1855 personally came the before named Polly Fales & Billings Bendire. Duly well known, who are known to be credible persons, residing as stated above who subscribed the foregoing affidavits in my presence & made oath that the statements therein are true. And I further certify that I have no interest in said claims & am not concerned in their prosecution. And further that I am authorized by the laws of Pennsylvania to administer oaths & take acknowledgments of deeds.
Before me William Root & Sherman
acting Justices of the peace

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
Providence ss. In Foster, On this fourteenth day of January A.D. 1856,
Personally came before the undersigned a Public Notary within and for the County of Providence, Hoseiah French, who being duly sworn according to law, on oath says that he is a resident of the Town of Sterling in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut, that he is seventy two years of age, That he was well acquainted with William Foster formerly of the Town of Foster, in the State of Rhode Island, That he first became acquainted with him in the Year 1811. I think, and knew him to be a resident of said Foster until about the year 1817. or 1818, when he said Foster removed to Pennsylvania, that this affiant went in company with said William Foster a part of his journey on his way to Pennsylvania, that this affiant in the month of September following the time of said Foster removal to Pennsylvania went there and made the said Foster a visit, and staid with him several days, That said Foster was at that time living in Greenfield, Luzerne County Pennsylvania, that this affiant for a number of years was intimate with the family of the said William Foster, and has often heard him say that he served in the War of the Revolution, That he well knew the Wife of William Foster and her family, that her maiden name was Amy Pierce, but he did not know her before her marriage, He knew that said William & Amy lived together as man & Wife both in said Foster and Greenfield. That he well knew the children of the said William & Amy, their names were Nathan Foster, Timothy Foster, Ella who married John Haden, as I was informed, after the death of Adam Miller her first husband,

Anne, who married Gilbert English, Abby, who married Stephen Gardiner and Waity, who married John Joslin, and Pierce Foster, that this Affiant has not heard of or from Nathan for thirty years, or more, and believes he is dead, That said Timothy lived in Pennsylvania and as this Affiant was informed, died about a year since, or more That said Dilla, Anne & Pierce are living in Pennsylvania as he is informed and believes. That said Abby is living in Wabash, Illinois, as he is informed, and believes, and that he is well acquainted with Waity Joslin of Coventry, and she was living in the last week in December 1855, as this Affiant knows, and he believes she is still living in said Coventry, State of Rhode Island, That he was informed and believes that said William Foster and Anne his Wife, died in Greenfield Pennsylvania, several years ago, that he was so informed, soon after their respective deaths. That said William had no other children, than those herein named, as he believes, and he is confident from his acquaintance with the family, that had they had any other children he would have known it - And he further states that he has no interest in the claims of said children or any of them of said William on the Government of the United States
Witness -
Horekiah French
Robt M. Potter } Daniel Boward }
Sworn to and subscribed Before me the day & year first above written And I certify that the said Horekiah French is well known to me, and is a resident of the Town of Sterling, Connecticut,

and as I believe from his appearance he is of the age stated in his Affidavit - And I further certify that he is a person fully entitled to credit - and that I have no interest in the Claims of said children of said William Foster or any of them, and am not concerned in the prosecution thereof
Barrel Howard Public Notary

THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
PROVIDENCE, SC.
CLERK'S OFFICE, SUPREME COURT,
PROVIDENCE, January 16 th A. D., 1856
I, John A Gardner
Clerk of the SUPREME COURT of said State, within and for the County of Providence:
DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Daniel Weaver is a Public Notary for the County of Providence in said State & as such was at the time of signing the annexed certificate, duly appointed and qualified, and authorized to administer oaths and take depositions and the acknowledg- ment of deeds and other instruments, and that only below the signature to the annexed Certificate, purporting to be his, is genuine.
IN ATTESTATION WHEREOF, I hereto subscribe my name, and affix the Seal of said Court, the day and year above written.
John A Gardner Clerk.

Holland Hotel
Mackinac Jan 28 1857
Hon George C Whiting
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir:
In the case of the heirs of William Foster a Revolutionary soldier of the Pa. Continental line. The letter from your office dated August 25. 1856. required me to present final evidence to identify the deceased with the soldier of that line by that name who received land in 1808..
I had received from the Com. of the Gen Land Office a letter dated August 5. 1856. stating that the S. Mulkey warrant No 3116. for 100 acres. issued in favor of William Foster was with other warrants amounting to 4000 acres. patented in favor of Theodore Foster & Co. in Licking Co Ohio.
Hoping that the assignments of Foster might be found in the Land Office. that I might establish the identity of the Foster by comparison of the signature of that assignment with the signature of his hand given by the heirs of the deceased. I then wrote the Land Office asking if such assignment was

on file in that office & give me its date & the place where made.
In reply to that letter I was informed by a letter of the 8 th Sept. that as the Warrants issued under the act of Sept 16 th 1776. numbered from 1 to 6913. were destroyed by fire in 1801. No further information than that stated in the letter addressed to you on the 15 th ult. can be furnished.
Knowing that Theodore Foster had been a Senator from R. I. & a grandson of Charles F. Tillinghast a lawyer of Providence & a grandson of Mr Foster. if he had any of the papers of Mr Foster relating to Bromley Land Claims. He replied that he had all the remaining papers of Mr Foster that Mr Foster's wife after her husband's death burnt up a large quantity of papers. That he had looked for papers relating to Mr Foster's Bromley Land in Ohio. at the request of other parties but have never been able to find any.

Under these circumstances I find it difficult if not impossible to meet your requirements. I however enclose some of the writing & two signatures of Foster made after he went from Rhode Island to Pennsylvania, in the hope that there may be on the files of your office some of the signatures of William Foster on Muster & Pay Rolls, which would enable you to decide upon the identity of the deceased Foster of Pennsylvania & the Foster who served in the War I believe.
I hope the case may be decided in favor of the applicants for I am convinced that from the character of the person who employed me to present the case that it is an honest & a just claim.
I am very Respectfully Your Obedient Servant Joseph L. Warren

Providence Jan 18/1856,
Hon J. Mait Sir
I have the honor to present the claim of the heirs of William Foster a soldier of the Revolution to the pension which was due said Foster at his death, and also to the Bounty Land allowed & due to him by the Resolution of 1776.
I request that that this claim may be examined and the result made known to me
I am Sir very Respectfully Your obedent servant Joseph S. Pitman
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Mr. Folsom Care
Dear Folsom Col. Sweeney 5 th Cav. Reg't
Capt. W. Humphreys Compy. Col. J. Angell Pugb.

Providence April 5 th 1856
Mr Pitman
Dr Sir
Enclosed please find the Signature of William Foster on an old order I also send this old note as it compares with the order — I would like to know if the hand writing compares with the rolls
Yours Truly Stephen O. Randall

William Fosters heirs. Oregon Claim to acres of Pension.
Feb. 1882
2

Providence Aug. 11. 1856.
Hon J. M. Smith Sir
I forward herewith the additional affidavit of Billings, Bondreh. in the claim of the heirs of William Foster. Rev. War. Rhode Island Line, to Pension due said William at his death.
The last letter I have from your office on this subject is dated. April 14. 1856.
It will be difficult to show the identity of said William Foster of Greenfield. with the War Foster who received land. for service in that war as the papers presented in behalf of the claim for land cannot be found in your office. I hope therefore this circumstantial evidence going to establish the identity will be deemed sufficient. Respectfully, Joseph S. Warren

Providence March 25/44.
Rev J. Munit
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
In the case of Mrs Foster's heirs, a Revolutionary soldier claiming the pension due their father at his death Jumps of the 26th of January was duly received. I believe you stated "It is singular that the father of "claimants if he were such soldier "never applied for Pension from the "year 1818 to 1828 in which "latter year it is averred he died" I think you mistook 18 3 8 for 18 2 8 as Foster died in the former year.
I now enclose certain testimony which shows why Foster never applied for the Pension, and also why it is the claimants have

lost all recollection or have no knowledge of their father having received land.
I request that these papers may be examined & if they do not remove the objections stated in yours of the 26 th of January. That you will inform me, where the story you say received land had the same located, as if it can be made to appear that the father of these applicants never conveyed his land, or if he did convey it, we may be able to trace the identity of the party.
I am Sir very Respectfully Joseph S. Pitman

Foster Thomas Date of certif c Oct 22 d 1819 - Commencement of Pension May 4. 1818

No 39.037
William Foster, died Penn ne
his wife S. Pitman Jan 26/56 Same Apr 14/56 son August 25/56 son Feb. 20/57
3697
Res 1 7 1832

REJECTED
3694
P. O. Sam Foster
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Searched for _____, 18

Greensboro July the 21 day 1849
for value received promise to pay
Henry Felton to Liberty five Dollars with
in fifty days in Money or Cash on his
Chimneys in his new house as Witness my hand & seal test

William Soper Vote 42.5

Mr. Wells Sir - I hear to send you one dozen  one  dozen in Whiskey and I will send you the rest as soon as as soon as I can wash them out have to Barn Greenfield December the 10 1827
William Westland

City of Carbondale } Susquehanna County } ss State of Pennsylvania } Personally appeared before me William
Root An alderman in and for the City of Carbondale aforesaid Elizabeth Pill widow of Jonah Pill (a revolutionary pensioner as the wife of Jonah Pill) aforesaid aged sixty eight years and a resident of Greenfield, County and state aforesaid and after being duly sworn deponeth and saith that she was well acquainted with William Foster the Applicant in this case - That she had been acquainted with him for thirty five years That he resided in that time in the township of Greenfield aforesaid - That he was a native of Rhode Island - I should think his age was about eighty six years of age when he died which was about eight years ago - He died in Greenfield aforesaid - I have often heard Mr Foster speak of his services in the Revolutionary war - I have heard it in conversation with my husband who was a pensioner - He always claimed to be a revolutionary soldier - I have heard many revolutionary soldiers say he was in the service and entitled to a pension if he would only apply - I have heard applicant say repeatedly that he would never apply as long as he had any other means of support - I have heard him remark he did not fight for money - I have heard him say he had a brother

Thomas Foster engaged in the service with him who received a pension and there was not much difference in the amount of service - This applicant was a man of strict truth and veracity and so considered throughout the neighborhood. I have heard him remark of an accident that happened to him whereby he lost all his little property &c and some near losing his own life - It was by being swamped in crossing a River - I have no doubt from what I have heard him say that he believed he was entitled to a pension but he seemed to scorn to apply for it - That it was humiliating to him to have people think he fought for money - I have no interest in this application. Sworn and subscribed { before me this day { Elizabeth X Pell 12th day of March AD 1886 } mark William Root Oldman
Solomon Finch first sworn and examined, as and in manner aforesaid I am a resident of Greenfield aforesaid I was born there forty five years ago and have resided there ever since - I was well acquainted with William Foster the above named applicant for pension - I had been acquainted with him for thirty seven years; before his death He always claimed and it was admitted by all the neighborhood that he was a revolutionary soldier - He was a native of the town of Foster Rhode Island - There were

many settlers in this vicinity from Rhode Island - It was admitted by all of them that he was a Revolutionary soldier - I have heard some of them who were Revolutionary Pensioners about the fact and urged him to apply for a pension - He always refused and would remark that as long as he had any other means of support he would never apply for pension - That he did not fight for money - That it was for the good of his country - I have heard his sons urge him to apply but in all instances he would make about the same response - He always claimed that it was humiliating to ask the soldiers to take money for their services - I have heard him remark about losing his papers by an accident in crossing a stream or river in going to some place he moved to before he came here after he left Rhode Island - Said he lost all of his deeds & title papers and narrowly escaped losing his life - The above Applicant was a man of strict truth and veracity and so considered throughout the neighborhood - His indignation to a pension seemed to have arisen from the fact that many drew a pension that were not entitled to it and that rendered no service to the country - I am in no way interested in this application.
Sworn and subscribed
before me this 14th day of March 1856
Solomon Finch
William Root Alderman

City of Carbondale State of Pennsylvania
The within affidavits were duly taken before me this the fourteenth day of March A.D. Eighteen hundred and fifty six - And I do further certify that, within deponents are persons of good character for truth and veracity and that I believe the facts therein set forth are true I do further certify that I have no intent in this Application.
William Root Alderman
{Seal}
City of Carbondale State of Pennsylvania
2. B Mr. Fisher
Clerk of the Mayor's Court for the City of Carbondale aforesaid do hereby certify that William Root = By before whom the foregoing affidavits were made was at the time of so doing an Alderman in and for said City duly commissioned and sworn and that the signature of said Alderman is his genuine signature - that I am acquainted with his hand writing
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Mayor's Court this the 12th of March A.D. 1856
B. J. Fisher Clerk

State of Pennsylvania
City of Carbondale in the County of Luzerne On this twenty sixth day of July A D 1856 Personally appeared before me the undersigned, an Alderman in and for the City of Carbondale, Billings Burdick who being duly sworn and on Oath, says that he is a Resident of Greenfield Township that he is Sixty nine years of age that he well recollects and knew William Foster the Father of Pierce Foster of Greenfield in the County of Luzerne That said William Foster often spoke in my hearing and to me of his services in the War of Revolution that heard him often tell of his being at New Port Rhode Island of his witnessing the suffering of Prisoners Confined in the British Prison ship and of his standing Sentry and being Called on Patrol three nights, successively, and that he was employed with others in helping to remove the Prisoners from the British Prison Ship and that Prisoners were so starved and filthy that their Old and dirty Clothes were Burned, that they fed them with Soup by Spoonfull at a time. I have often heard the said William Foster speak of the sufferings of our Soldiers with tears, that his Neighbors believed that the said William was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War, that he served his Country without the expectation of Bounty or Pension and said he never would ask for a Pension as long as he had hands and could work; That I have no interest in the Claim of the Heirs of Wm Foster Billings Burdick
Carbondale City is sworn and subscribed the day and year above written the said Billings Burdick is well known to me, he is a Resident of Greenfield Township and is a Creditable Person, I am not interested in said Claim nor Interested in the Prosecution thereof
William Root Alderman and acting Judge of the Mayor Court of the City of Carbondale

State of Pennsylvania County of Luzerne Clerk's Office, Mayor's Court, B. M. Siple July 26 th A. D. 1856 Carbondale City Clerk of the Mayor's Court for Luzerne of said State, within and for the county of Luzerne do hereby certify that William Root Alderman before whom the foregoing declaration and affidavit purport to have been made and sworn to, and who has subscribed his name to the certificate thereof, was at the date thereof, a Justice of the Peace  Justice of the Peace within and for the City of Carbondale in said county, duly appointed and qualified, and authorized to administer oaths and take depositions and the acknowledgment of deeds and other instruments; and that the signatures to the foregoing certificates, purport- ing to be his, are genuine. I have no interest in said claim, and am not concerned in the prosecution thereof. In attestation whereof, I hereto subscribe my name, and affix my official seal, as Clerk of said Court, the day and year above written. B. M. Siple Clerk.
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